Bob Cooney

The Sixers have signed free-agent center Tony Battie, president and general manager Ed Stefanski announced today.

“We see Tony Battie as a player who can come in and give us additional depth in the front court while also providing a valuable veteran presence for our younger players both on and off the court,” Stefanski said.

Battie (6-11, 240) recently completed his 12th NBA season and has averaged 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 772 career games with 418 starts. He has also appeared in 51 playoff games with 30 starts and was a member of the Orlando Magic’s Eastern Conference title team in 2008-09.

"I feel I can bring a veteran presence and leadership," Battie said on a conference call this afternoon. "We have a young core, especially with the bigs; with Marreese [Speights], [Jason] Smith and with me eing a vet. And then we have Spencer Hawes.

"I'm looking forward to bringing what I can and showing my tricks of the trade. I've never been a guy to fill the stat sheet. I'm a team guy. I like to be a defensive presence a hard-nosed rebounder, a guy who loves to do the dirty work."